Former Durham man facing multiple charges in Colorado

DENVER — A former Durham resident with a local criminal record was arrested last week in Denver and now faces significant drug-related money laundering charges in Colorado.

Taylor Hills, 25, of Boulder, Colo., was charged with 17 counts of money laundering, 12 counts of illegal use of the mail, one count of a false statement on a loan application, and one count of failing to file a tax return.

He was indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver on Jan. 29, for money laundering in relation to distribution of a controlled substance, illegal use of the mail, false statement in a loan application and failure to pay taxes.

This case was investigated by agents with Homeland Security Investigations, IRS-Criminal Investigation, US Postal Inspection Service, officers from the Boulder County Drug Task Force and the Boulder County District Attorney's Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Michele Korver.

According to a press release from the Department of Justice, the indictment indicates that Hills “allegedly engaged in financial transactions, which transactions involved the proceeds of specified unlawful activity, that is, the distribution of controlled substances.”

The indictment further states that he “allegedly conducted financial transactions while knowing that the property involved in each transaction represented the proceeds of some form of unlawful activity.”

Hills also allegedly made “a false statement or report for the purpose of influencing the action of JP Morgan Chase, a federally insured financial institution, in connection with a vehicle loan application.”

Should Hills be convicted of the violations stated in these indictments, he is to forfeit “any and all of the defendants' right, title and interest in all property, real or personal, involved in such offenses, or all property traceable to such property, including but not limited to the following: 2008 Ducati motorcycle, and U.S. currency located in a Roth IRA.”

Ken Kupfner, Chief Trial Deputy, 20th Judicial District in CO said “the cases that have resulted from this investigation are based on a joint investigation involving the United States Attorney's Office, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations, IRS-Criminal Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Boulder County Drug Task Force.”

Durham Deputy Police Chief Rene Kelley said Hills also had a criminal record while living in Durham.

In May 2010, Hills was arrested and found guilty of simple assault and possession of controlled drugs.

In September 2009, he was the victim of a home invasion where four robbers entered a Scotland Road residence and tied up several of the residents including Hills. During the investigation it was revealed the assailants were there to rob the residence of drugs.

And in 2010, Hills ended up forfeiting $15,000 in cash intercepted by the Durham Police Department he had intended to send to a person in California and did so by using a fake name.

Previous to his Scotland Road address, Kelley said Hills lived on Route 4.

He also said it does not appear any of the charges currently being brought against Hills have any connection to Durham.

If convicted of money laundering, Hills faces up to 20 years in federal prison, and a fine of up to $500,000 per count. If convicted of illegal use of the mail, he faces up to four years in federal prison, and a fine of up to $250,000 per count. If convicted of false statement in loan application, he faces up to 30 years in federal prison, and a fine of up to $1,000,000 per count. If convicted of failing to file a tax return, he faces up to one year in federal prison, and a fine of up to $25,000 per count.

An indictment is not an indication of guilt; rather, it means a grand jury has found sufficient evidence to warrant a trial.